Politics 101

Before WWII there were many who Admired the Great Things Authoritative and Charismatic Dictators were Doing

The Nazi Party is one of the most documented rises of totalitarianism. A system of government where everything and everyone is subordinated to the state. Where the state comes first. And the people are expendable. Ruled by a single person. A charismatic leader. Who the people pledge their allegiance to. And follow obediently to the ends of the earth. We can learn a lot by studying what happened in Nazi Germany about the quest for absolute power. For though party ideology may differ the path to that party is eerily similar wherever, and whenever, you look.

Of course, some are infatuated by an all-powerful state. Not for the crimes against their people. But what an all-powerful state can do. Where enlightened individuals can do what’s best for the people without having to deal with a political opposition. Just read what one beloved world leader wrote about Adolf Hitler prior to the outbreak of hostilities that embroiled the world in World War II:

Other musings concern how great the autobahns were – ‘the best roads in the world’ – and how, having visited Hitler’s Bavarian holiday home in Berchtesgaden and the tea house built on top of the mountain for him.

He declared; ‘Who has visited these two places can easily imagine how Hitler will emerge from the hatred currently surrounding him to emerge in a few years as one of the most important personalities that ever lived.’

This was written just a few years before Hitler invaded Poland. Up until the war broke out there were many who admired the great things authoritative and charismatic leaders were doing. Mussolini made the trains run on time. And FDR was so smitten with Joseph Stalin and the great things he was doing in the Soviet Union that it broke his heart when the Soviets signed a non-aggression pact with the Nazis. Allowing the invasion of Poland. And starting World War II. While splitting up Poland between the Nazis and the communists. Basically removing Poland from the map.

The Left has used the Expanding Size of the Federal Government to Harass and Silence their Political Enemies

This is why Nazi Germany is so interesting as a study in politics. For the Nazis rose to power within the political process. They won elections. And then used their legitimate powers to expand their power. Often helped by the clever use of propaganda. Misinformation. And brutal criminal acts. Which becomes easier to do as your powers grow. And you place yourself above the law. And become a nation of a charismatic ruler. Instead of a nation of laws.

With the recent scandals of the Obama administration (Benghazi, the obstruction of free speech, the persecution of conservatives, etc.) some are making comparisons to Watergate. While some even go so far as to compare it to Nazi Germany. Of course, President Obama and the Democrats are NOT Nazis. In fact, they are diametrically opposed to much Nazi ideology. Just to give one example take immigration. The Nazis believed in a pure Germanic race and opposed immigration of non-Germans. While Democrats want to throw open the borders. So the left are not Nazis. But if you read the 25 points of the Nazi Party platform of 1920 you will see that the left employs many of the same tools to rise to power as the Nazis—and all totalitarian regimes—used in their rise to power. Here are some of the 25 points.

9. All citizens must have equal rights and obligations.

12. In consideration of the monstrous sacrifice in property and blood that each war demands of the people personal enrichment through a war must be designated as a crime against the people. Therefore we demand the total confiscation of all war profits.

13. We demand the nationalization of all (previous) associated industries (trusts).

15. We demand an expansion on a large scale of old age welfare.

16. We demand the creation of a healthy middle class and its conservation, immediate communalization of the great warehouses and their being leased at low cost to small firms, the utmost consideration of all small firms in contracts with the State, county or municipality.

18. We demand struggle without consideration against those whose activity is injurious to the general interest. Common national criminals, usurers, Schieber and so forth are to be punished with death, without consideration of confession or race.

20. The state is to be responsible for a fundamental reconstruction of our whole national education program, to enable every capable and industrious German to obtain higher education and subsequently introduction into leading positions. The plans of instruction of all educational institutions are to conform with the experiences of practical life. The comprehension of the concept of the State must be striven for by the school [Staatsbuergerkunde] as early as the beginning of understanding. We demand the education at the expense of the State of outstanding intellectually gifted children of poor parents without consideration of position or profession.

23. We demand legal opposition to known lies and their promulgation through the press. In order to enable the provision of a German press, we demand, that:

a. All writers and employees of the newspapers appearing in the German language be members of the race:

b. Non-German newspapers be required to have the express permission of the State to be published. They may not be printed in the German language:

c. Non-Germans are forbidden by law any financial interest in German publications, or any influence on them, and as punishment for violations the closing of such a publication as well as the immediate expulsion from the Reich of the non-German concerned. Publications which are counter to the general good are to be forbidden. We demand legal prosecution of artistic and literary forms which exert a destructive influence on our national life, and the closure of organizations opposing the above made demands.

25. For the execution of all of this we demand the formation of a strong central power in the Reich. Unlimited authority of the central parliament over the whole Reich and its organizations in general. The forming of state and profession chambers for the execution of the laws made by the Reich within the various states of the confederation. The leaders of the Party promise, if necessary by sacrificing their own lives, to support by the execution of the points set forth above without consideration.

Both the Nazis and the left call for an egalitarian society. For example, everyone should have access to health care. While everyone is obligated to pay their fair share (i.e., the health care mandate forcing people to buy health insurance). Both call war a crime against the people and want to confiscate war profits. Among other profits. The left wants to get rid of the profit incentive and capitalism while the Nazis wanted to just nationalize private sector industries. The Nazis wanted to get the elderly dependent on the state by expanding old age welfare. Just as the left does with Social Security and Medicare (and now Obamacare). The Nazis wanted to implement price controls to help the middle class. The left’s solution to the high cost of health care (in part) is price controls. Forcing doctors and hospitals to work for less. The Nazis wanted to severely punish those who are injurious to the state agenda. The left used the IRS and other agencies of the federal government to make life uncomfortable for those who actively oppose their agenda (case in point the recent scandals plaguing the Obama administration). The Nazis controlled education as “early as the beginning of understanding.” The left had the government take over the student loan program to get more kids into college where they can further indoctrinate them. The left controls public education. That gets out the vote to help Democrats win elections. And the left is always trying to create/expand state-run childcare. To start indoctrinating children as “early as the beginning of understanding.” The Nazis wanted to ban any free speech that did not help the general good. As the state determined what that general good was. The left marginalizes the one network (Fox) that doesn’t endorse the left’s agenda. They’ve tried to muzzle free speech on the one media outlet they did not dominate (talk radio) by trying to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine. And they’ve talked about extending that to the Internet to shut down any opposition there. The Nazis called for a strong central authority with unlimited powers to protect the general interest. The left has expanded the size of the federal government under the guise to protect the general interest. And the recent scandals show the use of that growing central authority to harass and silence their political enemies. Conservatives. Who are today’s scapegoat.

JFK was more Champion of the People than Seeker of Dictatorial Power unlike Today’s Democrat Party

The Nazi party did not do well until the Great Depression. When the masses were unemployed and suffering under the war reparations of the Versailles Treaty. The people were angry. Frustrated. And felt they were suffering for the crimes of others. Then along came Adolf Hitler. And the Nazi Party. They did not let this crisis go to waste. The Nazis identified a scapegoat for all of their woes. The Jews. With a great crisis and a scapegoat the Nazis started winning elections. In 1928 the Nazis had 12 seats in the Reichstag. By September of 1930, after the pain of the Great Depression was being felt, they had 107 seats. Making them the second largest party. At the same time the Hitler Youth junior branches started indoctrinating boys and girls as young as 10. By July 1932 the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag. The Nazis co-ruled the country as part of a coalition government. In 1933 the Reichstag burnt down. Another crisis too good to waste. The Nazis (who probably started that fire) blamed the Communist Party (KPD). The second largest party in the Reichstag. The Nazis got the KPD banned. Giving the Nazis majority rule. They then suspended basic civil rights. Because enemies of the people were everywhere. And the government needed to protect them. Making Germany a police state. The Civil Service law of 1933 began the removal of Jews from every office. The Nazis then abolished trade unions. Forcing everyone to join the German Labor Front. Then in March 1933 the government passed the Enabling Law. Transferring legislative power to Hitler’s cabinet. Creating Hitler’s dictatorship. As the future of Germany could no longer be left to the chaos of an elected body. It needed the strong will of a charismatic leader who knew what was best for the German people. And the German people followed his will obediently. Because there were enemies all around. And they needed someone unhindered by an elected body or law to protect them.

Liberal Democrats are NOT Nazis. They have more ideological difference than they share. But they do have one thing in common with the Nazis. Their quest for power. And in that quest for power they have used some of the same techniques the Nazis used. Because all power-hungry people use these techniques. They identify an enemy (Jews/conservatives). They champion the people. And then lie through their teeth. Using their growing powers to consolidate even more power. All the while the people enthusiastically support them. Supporting the oppression of their common enemy. Until that consolidated power begins to include them in their oppression. Where all but the most devout Nazis regretted their earlier support of the Nazi Party. As it was all but the most devout Nazis that suffered from the state’s oppression.

So who was that beloved world leader that wrote so admiringly of Adolf Hitler before the outbreak of World War II? He was an American. A Democrat. Who actually went on to fight in World War II. Against the Japanese. Who went on to become president of the United States. Fierce Cold War warrior. And, surprisingly, endorsed economic policies that Ronald Reagan would one day endorse. John Fitzgerald Kennedy (see How JFK secretly ADMIRED Hitler: Explosive book reveals former President’s praise for the Nazis as he travelled through Germany before Second World War posted 5/23/2013 on the Daily Mail). Who may have had some faults. But being a Nazi wasn’t one of them. JFK may have wanted to use the power of government to make America better. But he was an old school Democrat. Who was more champion of the people than seeker of dictatorial power. Unlike today. Where it appears the Democrats in power use the IRS and other agencies of the federal government to oppress their political enemies. Conservatives. Kind of the way the Nazis oppressed their political enemies in Germany. And like the communists oppressed their political enemies in East Germany. Where our fierce Cold War warrior spat in the face of that communist oppression by proclaiming, “Ich bin ein Berline.” I am a Berliner. But today it is the Democrats that are the oppressors. Not the ones fighting against oppression.